If Untreated Stress Can Lead to Chronic Health Issues

What is Stress?

By Lindsay DeStefano

Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and stress! But what is stress?

Stress is the pileup of emotions and feelings. While stress can be a good thing at times (like when we use it to propel us forward to meet a deadline or to achieve a goal), it can also be harmful. Harmful (or negative) stress is when the small daily stressors that we feel every day become prolonged. For instance, the recurring stress from being stuck in a bad relationship, or having a job in a toxic workplace, or the constant struggle to pay bills.

When we go through a stressful event, our bodies respond. We call these stressful events “triggers.” A trigger sets us off and shifts us into “fight or flight” mode. Fight or flight is supposed to occur when someone senses a perceived threat. Then, they must either prepare to fight or prepare to escape from (flight) the threat. In these moments, surges of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline flood the system to provide the proper tools to handle the situation and find safety. The problem occurs when someone feels these “fight or flight” surges too often—a person who feels these surges on a daily basis or more may begin to see their health being harmed.

Signs & Symptoms

When we are stressed, our bodies have ways of letting us know. Stress affects all of us in different ways because no two people are the exact same, but there are some common signs and symptoms that many people feel. It is key to know your signs and symptoms so that the next time you suffer from stress you can begin to take action to manage it and, in the future, even prevent it.

Here are some common signs and symptoms of stress:

• Headaches
• Upset stomach or diarrhea
• Mind fog
• Sleeping trouble
• Indigestion
• Fluttering heart
• Sweating or shaking
• Weight loss or gain
• Tense neck
• Anxiety

If you’re feeling any of these signs, that’s okay—alone they can be managed. These signs help alert us that there is a problem so we can shift gears to build healthier habits and begin fixing the stressful issues. The real problem occurs when these signs are left untreated. Over time, the signs and symptoms of stress can go on to become major chronic health issues.